Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2007

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation in excess of 40 percent for his lumbar spine disability is being remanded due to the need for additional records and consideration.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for a right knee disability and back disability due to insufficient medical evidence, including an unsigned VA examination report and unclear opinions. The case is returned to the RO for further development.

The Board denied an increased rating for the veteran's lumbar spine injury residuals, finding that the disability did not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete evidence and need for a medical examination.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the veteran's chronic back/spinal disabilities.

The veteran is seeking service connection for hip and low back disabilities that he believes are related to his service-connected left knee disability. The case has been remanded due to conflicting medical opinions regarding the nature of the veteran's injuries and their relationship to his service-connected condition.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for higher initial evaluations for tinnitus and left ear hearing loss, as well as his request for an earlier effective date for service connection of tinnitus. The claim for a back disorder was reopened but not granted.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and for increased ratings for lumbosacral strain, finding that there was no evidence to support these claims.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations were denied. The low back disability was rated at 20 percent, the tinea pedis at 10 percent, and no other conditions received a higher rating.

The Board denied the claim as there was insufficient evidence linking the veteran's service-connected disabilities to his cause of death, which was listed as cardiac arrest.

The veteran's initial increased ratings for degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine, patellofemoral syndrome of both knees, and scar from laparoscopy were granted. The veteran was denied service connection for incontinence of the bowels.

The VA determined that the veteran's service-connected thoracolumbar strain with mild degenerative changes and disc protrusion does not warrant a higher disability rating.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for scheduling a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at the local RO.

The veteran's claim is being remanded due to his failure to report for a scheduled Travel Board hearing. His file will be transferred to the St. Petersburg Florida RO and he should be scheduled for an appropriate Board hearing.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including low back strain with radiculopathy and depressive disorder, are found to be sufficient by themselves to preclude him from obtaining or maintaining any form of substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and occupational background. Therefore, the claim for a TDIU is granted.

The veteran seeks service connection for lumbosacral degenerative changes. The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine if his current back disability is related to military service.

The Board finds that the veteran's low back disability and fatigue were not incurred in or aggravated by service. Service connection is denied.

The veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability was denied, and the effective date of his award for status-post left hip arthroplasty remains unresolved.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for further development, including obtaining a VA medical examination and reviewing the veteran's claims file. The case will be returned to the Board for further consideration.